Minnow-pail and shipping-can.



No. 724,539 PATENTED APRIL 1903. E. c. BOURNE. MINNOW PAIL ANDSHIPPING CAN.

APPLIGATION FILED JUNE 16 1902.

N0 MODEL.

fiwym M UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EUGENE C. BOURNE, OF SANDWICH, MASSACHUSETTS.

MINNOW- PAIL AND SHIPPING-CAN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 724,539, dated April 7, 1903.

' Application filed June 16, 1902. Serial No. 111,978. (No model-3 T0 all 1071 0721, it may concern;

Be it known that I, EUGENE O. BOURNE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Sandwich, in the county of Barn'stable and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Minnow-Pails and Shipping-Cans; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention aims to provide a can for transporting, carrying, or shipping fish which will be free from the objectionable feature of necessitating change of water or the forcing of the air into the water, said can'being of novel formation and of such construction as to automatically force air into the water, the force being derived from the jar, jolt, or movement incident to handling or transporting of the can.

The invention comprises, essentially, an inner and an outer vessel, means for yieldingly supporting the inner vessel, and a system of air valves and passages for the admission of air into the inner vessel when the can or package as a whole is either in transit or is being I handled.

The improvement consists, further, of the structural details and novel combinations of the parts, which hereinafter will be more particularly set forth, illustrated, and finally claimed.

In the drawings hereto attached and forming a part of the specification, Figure 1 is a vertical central section of a can or package embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is a detail view, on a larger scale, showing more clearly the air valve and passages. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section of the can about on the line X X of Fig. 1.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

The shipping can, pail, or package comprises, essentially, an outer vessel land an inner vessel 2, the latter being freely movable within the outer vessel and yieldingly supported therein, preferably by means of springs 3, interposed between the bottoms of the two vessels. A band 4, of rubber or other suitable material, encircles the inner vessel near its upper and lower ends and is designed to prevent rattling or shaking about of the inner vessel and to provide an approximately tight joint between the two vessels to prevent the escape of air and insure forcing the same into the body of water contained in the inner vessel. An inwardly-opening valve (or valves) is provided at the lower end of the vessel 1 for the purpose of admitting air into the said vessel upon the upward movement of the inner vessel 2 and to close so as to prevent the escape of the air upon the descent of said inner vessel. The number and position of the air-valves are unimportant so long as provision is had for admitting air into the vessel 1 and forcing it through the inner vessel upon downward movement of said inner vessel within the outer vessel. An'air-passage 6 is provided, preferably at one side of the inner vessel, and its lower end is in communication with an opening 7 in the bottom of said inner vessel. A second air-passage 8 is in communication at its upper end with the air-passage 6, and its lower end opens into the bottom portion of the vessel 2. The air-passages 6 and 8 are preferably located within the inner vessel and at one side thereof and are formed within a flattened tube, which is soldered to the inner side of the vessel 2.

Within the purview of the invention any number of air-passages 6 and 8 may be provided, and, as shown, each can will embody two sets of air-passages located at diametrically opposite points, so as to aerate both sides of the water contained in the inner vessel jat the same time. The inner vessel projects above the outer vessel and is closed by a hollow cover 9, which is adapted to receive a cooling medium, such as ice, access being had to the space inclosed within the cover 9 by means of a caplO, closing an opening in the top side of the cover. 7

The can-is designed for carrying or shipping minnows, fish, and other aquatic creatures in a live state and obviates the necessity of changing the water orcharging the same with air by means of air-bulbs, pumps, or like devices requiring manipulation. The inner vessel is supplied with water, and the fish to be transported are placed therein. Theinner vessel being mounted upon springs or yieldingly supported within the outer vesthe vertical play of the latter, substantially sel in any' way i susceptible of vertical as set forth.

3. In a can for shipping fish and the like, 35

movement or play by the slightest jar or motion incident to the handling or carrying an outer vessel, a second vessel yieldingly the can. As the inner vessel moves upward supported within the outer vessel, an air-pasit draws air into the outer vessel through the sage applied to the inner vessel, an opening air valve or valves, and upon its descent the through the bottom thereof and extended u pair valve or valves close and confine the air, ward therein to near its upper end and a secwhich is forced upward into the passage 6, 0nd air-passage connected with the first-mento thence through the passage 8 into the Water, tioned air-passage at its upper end and havwhich is aerated automatically, as will be ing its lower end communicating with the readily appreciated. lower portion of the inner vessel, and means Having thus described the invention, what for admitting air into the outer vessel upon is claimed as new isthe upward movement therein of the inner '5 1. A shipping-can for fish and the like comvessel, substantially as specified.

prising an outer vessel, a second vessel yield- 4:. A can for shipping fish, the same comingly supported within the outer vessel and prising an outer vessel provided at its lower provided with an air-passage in communicaportion with an inwardly-opening air-valve,a tion with the lower portion of both vessels, second vessel movable within the outer ves- 20 and means for admitting air into the outer sel, a spring-support between the two vessels, vessel, the parts being combined so as to draw and an air-passage applied to the inner vesair into'the outer vessel upon the upward sel and communicating at one end with the movement of the inner vessel and to force lower portion thereof and in communication said air into the inner vessel upon the descent at its opposite end with the lower portion of 25 thereof, substantially as set forth. the outer vessel, substantially as described.

2. In a can for carrying fish and the like, In testimony whereof I affix my signature inner and outer vessels, means for yieldingly in presence of two witnesses.

supportin the inner vessel within the outer Y vessel, a band interposed between the two EUGENE BOD 30 vessels to prevent rattling and the escape of Witnesses:

Aucusrus R. POPE,

CHARLES E. BRADY.

air, and means for admitting air into the outer vessel and forcing it into the inner vessel by 

